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Irrigation allocations to stay at 18%

18 February 2009

River Murray irrigation allocations will remain at 18% as extreme drought conditions continue across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says rainfall was well below average across the Upper Murray catchment and in South Australia during January.

"Only 70 gigalitres flowed into the River Murray system in January 2009, compared with the long-term January average of 234 GL."

"The prospect of any significant improvement in River Murray water resources in coming months remains low because of continued hot and dry conditions through the basin."

"The volume of water held in Hume, Dartmouth, Lake Victoria and Menindee Lakes' storages is 1,689 GL, or 18% capacity, compared with the long-term average for this time of year of 6,000 GL, or 64%.

"Salinity levels between the border and Lock 1, and at Mannum and Murray Bridge, generally remain low. However, salinity levels in the Lower Lakes remain high.

"The water level at Lake Alexandrina, at Milang, is minus 0.79 m AHD, and at Lake Albert is currently minus 0.48 m AHD."

Allocation updates will continue to be issued on the 15th of each month, or the first business day following if it falls on a weekend.

For more information about conditions in the River Murray or wider Murray-Darling Basin, visit:

www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/